Bruce M. Rothschild

The oldest record of aquatic amniote congenital scoliosis

We report the first occurrence of congenital scoliosis in an early Permian aquatic parareptile, Stereosternum tumidum from Paraná state, Brazil. The spine malformation is caused by a congenital hemivertebra. These observations give insight into the biomechanical aspects of underwater locomotion in an axial skeleton-compromised aquatic amniote. This is the oldest record of a hemivertebra in an aquatic animal.

Impairment of Motivational Efforts: Another Complication of Opioid Compromise of Sleep Quality?

Fitzcharles and Shir1 emphasize the “negative effects of opioids in chronic pain conditions.” Kim, et al 2 attribute detrimental effects of opioids to compromise of adherence to therapeutic regimens, but Fitzcharles and Shir1 suggest an important role for other … Address correspondence to Dr. B.M. Rothschild, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA. E-mail: spondylair{at}gmail.com

Elucidating Bone Diseases in Brazilian Pleistocene Sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa, Folivora): First Cases Reported for the Nothrotheriidae and Megalonychidae Families

Abstract. Nothrotherium maquinense, Ahytherium aureum and Australonyx aquae are ground sloths endemic of the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Intertropical Region for which, as opposed to other xenarthrans such as megatheriid sloths and glyptodonts, no information regarding pathological conditions is available. Herein, we describe, based on an anatomopathological examination, four types of lesions for N. maquinense (spondyloarthropathy, Schmorls node, vertebral trauma and unspecific infection) and one lesion for A. aureum (osteochondritis dissecans). No lesions were observed in A. aquae. Although several different diseases have been diagnosed, considering the significant number of specimens (2,232) and individuals (41) analyzed, low prevalence marks them all.

Differential diagnostic perspectives provided by en face microscopic examination of articular surface defects

Surface defects have a central position in diagnosis of articular pathology. Recognizing the limitations of standard radiologic techniques and those imposed by positioning and averaging artifacts on CT evaluation, direct visualization of surface defects was pursued to identify disease characteristics that would facilitate interpretation of radiologic findings. Epi-illumination surface microscopy was utilized to examine macroscopically recognized articular surface defects in individuals in the Hamann-Todd, Terry, and Huntington human skeletal collections with previously verified diagnoses of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, juvenile inflammatory arthritis (JIA), calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), gout, metastatic cancer, multiple myeloma, septic arthritis, tuberculosis, fungal arthritis, histiocytosis and sickle cell anemia (Rothschild and Rothschild Clin Infect Dis 20(5):1402–1408, 1995; Rothschild et al. Amer J Phys Anthropol 82(4):441–449, 1990; Rothschild and Rothschild Amer J Phys Anthropol 96(4):357–563, 1995; Rothschild and Woods Clin Exp Rheumatol 10(2):117–122, 1992; Barrett and Keat Radiographics 24(6):1679–1691, 2004; Rothschild and Heathcote Amer J Phys Anthropol 98(4):519–525, 1995; Rothschild and Woods Am J Phys Anthropol 85:25–34, 1991; Hershkovitz et al. Amer J Phys Anthropol 106(1):47–60, 1998; Winland et al. Amer J Phys Anthropol 24:S243, 1997; Rothschild et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 10(6):557–564, 1992; Rothschild and Martin , 2006; Rothschild et al. Amer J Phys Anthropol 102(2):249–264, 1997). Observed alterations were compared with standard radiographs. Fronts of resorption distinguished inflammatory arthritis from those caused by the other disorders studied. Multiple myeloma, fungal disease, and gout are expansile character; the latter accompanied by reactive new bone formation more prominent than that noted with spondyloarthropathy and JIA. Those were clearly distinguished from the crumbling alterations found with CPPD. Histiocytosis had a unique crenulated appearance, while nodules were prominent with syphilis. Defects in sickle cell anemia had ivory fragments at their base. These findings provided explanation for radiologic observations. Direct surface microscopy revealed characteristics apparently pathognomonic for specific disorders and facilitated distinguishing among them. The technique provides visualization an order of magnitude greater than that available with clinical radiologic techniques and identifies new characteristics which should facilitate clinical diagnoses. This demonstrates that there would be value to the development of higher resolution, clinically applicable imaging techniques.

Unusual intraosseous fossilized soft tissues from the Middle Triassic Nothosaurus bone

Fossilized soft tissues, occasionally found together with skeletal remains, provide insights to the physiology and functional morphology of extinct organisms. Herein, we present unusual fossilized structures from the cortical region of bone identified in isolated skeletal remains of Middle Triassic nothosaurs from Upper Silesia, Poland. The ribbed or annuli-shaped structures have been found in a sample of partially demineralized coracoid and are interpreted as either giant red blood cells or as blood vessel walls. The most probable function is reinforcing the blood vessels from changes of nitrogen pressure in air-breathing diving reptiles. These structures seem to have been built of extensible muscle layers which prevent the vessel damage during rapid ascent. Such suspected function presented here is parsimonious with results of previous studies, which indicate rarity of the pathological modification of bones associated with decompression syndrome in Middle Triassic nothosaurs.

Back to Basics: Clinical versus Radiologic Recognition of Spondyloarthropathy

To the Editor: The report by Christiansen, et al 1 again emphasizes one of the limitations to clinical application of our diagnostic paradigms. Sacroiliac joints (SIJ) have highly irregular contours with 3-D topography2. Imaging artifacts related to the limited resolution of computed tomography (related to the subchondral bone thickness of SIJ) compromises its reliability in identifying or excluding not only erosions, but also bridging or fusion … Address correspondence to Dr. B. Rothschild, Department of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA. E-mail: spondylair{at}gmail.com

Two types of bone necrosis in the Middle Triassic Pistosaurus longaevus bones: the results of integrated studies

Avascular necrosis, diagnosed on the basis of either a specific pathological modification of the articular surfaces of bone or its radiologic appearance in vertebral centra, has been recognized in many Mesozoic marine reptiles as well as in present-day marine mammals. Its presence in the zoological and paleontologic record is usually associated with decompression syndrome, a disease that affects secondarily aquatic vertebrates that could dive. Bone necrosis can also be caused by infectious processes, but it differs in appearance from decompression syndrome-associated aseptic necrosis. Herein, we report evidence of septic necrosis in the proximal articular surface of the femur of a marine reptile, Pistosaurus longaevus, from the Middle Triassic of Poland and Germany. This is the oldest recognition of septic necrosis associated with septic arthritis in the fossil record so far, and the mineralogical composition of pathologically altered bone is described herein in detail. The occurrence of septic necrosis is contrasted with decompression syndrome-associated avascular necrosis, also described in Pistosaurus longaevus bone from Middle Triassic of Germany.

Articular and vertebral lesions in the Pleistocene sloths (Xenarthra, Folivora) from the Brazilian Intertropical Region

Abstract We performed a macroscopic study on six species of Pleistocene sloths from the Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR) including Valgipes bucklandi, Catonyx cuvieri, Mylodonopsis ibseni, Glossotherium sp., Ocnotherium giganteum and Eremotherium laurillardi and compared the results with a previous investigation of Nothrotherium maquinense and Ahytherium aureum. Differential diagnostic analysis revealed six varieties of musculoskeletal diseases: Calcium Pyrosphosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD), Spondyloarthropathy (SpA), Osteoarthritis (OA), Osteochondritis Dessicans (OD), Schmorl’s Node (SN) and Spondylosis Deformans (SD). We also carried out multivariate statistical analyses on all Pleistocene sloths to verify the similarity between taxa based on diagnosed diseases.

Possible bite-induced abscess and osteomyelitis in Lufengosaurus (Dinosauria: sauropodomorph) from the Lower Jurassic of the Yimen Basin, China

We report an osseous abnormality on a specimen of the sauropod dinosaur Lufengosaurus huenei from the Fengjiahe Formation in Yuxi Basin, China. A gross pathological defect occurs on the right third rib, which was subjected to micro-computed tomographic imaging as an aid in diagnosis. The analysis of pathological characteristics and the shape of the abnormality is incompatible with impact or healed trauma, such as a common rib fracture, and instead suggests focal penetration of the rib, possibly due to a failed predator attack. The identification of characteristics based on gross morphology and internal micro-morphology presented by the specimen, suggests an abscess with osteomyelitis as the most parsimonious explanation. Osteomyelitis is a severe infection originating in the bone marrow, usually resulting from the introduction of pyogenic (pus-producing) bacteria into the bone. Micro-tomographic imaging of the lesion suggests a degree of healing and bone remodelling following post-traumatic wound infection with evidence of sclerotic bone formation at the site of pathological focus, indicating that L. huenei survived the initial trauma. However, as osteomyelitis can express through widespread systemic effects, including a lowering of immune response and overall condition, this disease may have been a contributing factor to the eventual death of the individual.

Tuberculosis-like respiratory infection in 245-million-year-old marine reptile suggested by bone pathologies

An absence of ancient archaeological and palaeontological evidence of pneumonia contrasts with its recognition in the more recent archaeological record. We document an apparent infection-mediated periosteal reaction affecting the dorsal ribs in a Middle Triassic eosauropterygian historically referred to as ‘Proneusticosaurus’ silesiacus. High-resolution X-ray microtomography and histological studies of the pathologically altered ribs revealed the presence of a continuous solid periosteal reaction with multiple superficial blebs (protrusions) on the visceral surfaces of several ribs. Increased vascularization and uneven lines of arrested growth document that the pathology was the result of a multi-seasonal disease. While visceral surface localization of this periosteal reaction represents the earliest identified evidence for pneumonia, the blebs may have an additional implication: they have only been previously recognized in humans with tuberculosis (TB). Along with this diagnosis is the presence of focal vertebral erosions, parsimoniously compared to vertebral manifestation of TB in humans.